Ana Kim

The Work Excerpt

Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a surrealist painter who is trying to make psychological connections with my audience. Using symbolic figures and dreamlike nature landscapes, I make allegorical paintings that depict my interest in exploring the relationship between multiple figures, or figures and backgrounds. Yet, I intend my audiences to interpret my work with their personal experiences. Breaking limitations of using limited space and ordinary notions, I work with un-finished edge including un-stretched canvas. This led me to understand and further my imagination and interpretation. I wish my audience to approach my paintings with unlimited definitions.

What kinds of art do you create?

I collage my images to communicate and share different stories between my viewer and myself. My method of working is collage. From the space I re-structure, I put existing images into a new image. I make allegorical paintings that include symbolic figures and dreamlike natural landscapes. I use symbolic and metaphoric subjects rather than direct and narrative subjects, because this will lead my audience to communicate with my works via their own experiences and moments.

My messages are about human relationships and emotions, including love, hope, and encouragement. So, I intend to invite my audiences to interpret my work with their own personal stories. By manipulating relationships of scale and color, I am developing a vocabulary that allows me to talk about my culture and personal stories that can be connected to viewer’s experiences.

How did you get started?

While pursuing industrial design degree, I feel like working inside of the format does not fit with me. I notice that I like to use my own creativity instead of working under the form.